Tamil Nadu village assistants, under the banner of their federation, have been continuing a statewide sit-in protest since February 5. They are demanding time-scale pay on par with fourth-grade employees.
In Chennai, the protest has been held at the Ezhilagam campus, where the demonstrators staged their dharna for the 33rd day on Sunday.
In support, more than 10 unions under the Revenue Department unions’ federation have announced a symbolic work stoppage across Tamil Nadu on Monday and Tuesday.
Separately, health motivators staged a siege protest in Chennai, pressing a four-point charter of demands including a pay hike. The protest, organised by the OTSA Panchayat Employees’ Association near Panagal Maligai in Saidapet, was led by state leader Chennammal and saw participation from over 800 health motivators from across the state.
Meanwhile, the federation of employees of staff cooperative thrift and credit societies said that while wage agreements for other cooperative-sector staff have been implemented over the past two years, pay orders for their category are still pending despite a pay committee being formed 20 months ago. The federation urged the government to issue the wage hike order at the earliest.
